Mechanical movement



(No Model.)

G. H. WILLIAMS 8v T. M. LASH.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

No. 460,736. Patented 001:. 6,1891.

2X) m; %M am...

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES HENRY YVILLIAMS AND TITQ MARTIN LASH, OF SACRAMENTO,

CALIFORNIA. 1

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,736, dated October 6, 1891. Application filed January 27, 1891 fierial No. 379,340. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

useful Improvement in Mechanical Movements; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to that general class 5 of mechanical movements which may be properly termed tread-powers, in which the operation is dependent upon a continuouslyj moving weight, such as a horse or other animal.

Our invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The objects of our invention are to provide a simple, effective, and economical power de-; vice, and to utilize the peculiar movement for the purposes of amusement in toys and instruction in educational appliances for schools for illustrating the movements of orbital bodies.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of our invention, Figure l is a perspective view of our mechanical movement. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same.

A is a base secured firmly in suitable posi tion either upon or depressed in the ground or upon a suitable truck Where the device is made portable.

and regulating the tilting movement ofthe platform, as will be presently described. From the center of this base rises a hearing or pivot-pin B, which is vertically adjustable by suitable meansas, for example, by being threaded in its seat, as shown. This pin is formed upon its upper end with a ball b.

C is the platform. It has secured to it by suitable depending standards 0 the limitingplate D. In the under side of this limitingplate is made a socket d, in which the ball I) of the pivot-pin B fits, thereby forming a balland-socket journal or joint about which the platform C can circu mferentially tilt or rock,

This base has around its rim a flange a, which forms a stop for limiting.

' this movement being limited bythe contact of its plate D with the rim-flange a of the base.

E is a central rotary shaft, having its lower end suitably stepped or pivoted in a bearing in the center of the plate D, said shaft passing freely up through the platform and journaled therein, permitting it to turn.

Upon the platform C is an outer track F, a middle track G, and an inner track H, said tracks being concentric, as shown.

Between the tracks F and G is the circular or endless path I, in which the horse is to travel.

F is a wheel connected by an arm f with l the central shaft E, and said wheel is mounted upon and adapted to travel on the outer track F.

G is a wheel connected with the central shaft by an arm gand adapted to travel upon the middle track G.

H is a wheel connected by an arm h with the central shaft E and adapted to travel upon the innertrack H.

The arms of the several wheels may be fitted with weight-boxes f, g, and h, respectively, and they are all connected and held firmly in their relative position with respect to each other by means of aconnecting-bar J. These wheels are all set upon the platform within the same half-circle thereof and maintain to each other such positions that as the Wheel F is on the lowermost point of the track the wheels G and II are on a down rade or ini cline.

K is a hold-back rod secured to the central shaft and between which and the arm of the wheel F the horse is to be hitched, so that he can move forward in front of said wheel and check the motion of all the wheels, when desired, by pulling back on the rod K.

Upon the lower portion of the central rotary shaft E is a gear L, which meshes with apinion m on a shaft M, from which the power may be transferred to any suitable point.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the horse moves around on the platform C he tilts it down continuously around itsfcircumference, the amount of its tilting being defined by the contact of the plate D below with the flange a of the base. As the plat form tilts it continuously creates an incline or downgrade in front of the wheel G, down which it rolls continuously, and this wheel pushes the wheel F in front of it continuously. The incline is also presented in front of the rear wheel H, and said wheel thereby assists the wheel G; but its special purpose is to steady the movement of said wheel. The wheel 1 is the balance-wheel and is to be made sufficiently heavy to balance the weight of the other wheels, so that the horses weight will be sufficient to cause the tilting of the platform continuously in front of said balance-wheel. The wheel G, may be termed the gravity-wheel, as from its downward movement on the incline the positive motion of the device is attained. The wheel H may be termed the steadying-wheel. This rotary movement of the wheels is transmitted to the central shaft E, which is thereby rotated, and its power may be taken to any suitable point desired-as, for example, through the gearing and shaft heretofore described or by means of a pulley directly upon it, such as is represented by N. To this pulley may also be applied a suitable braking device.

The object of the vertical adjustment of the pivot-pin B is to vary the amount of tilting movement of the platform 0. By raising this pin the plate D will be raised higher, so that it will have more tilting movement before it is limited by contact with the flange a, and by lowering the pin this tilting movement is lessened.

The device maybe used,as here illustrated, for a power device for driving machinery for different purposes, such as pumping water. It may also be used as a toy, and also as an educational appliance in schools for the purpose of illustrating the revolution of bodies through given orbits.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. A mechanical movement comprising a 'circumfereutially-tilting platform having a plurality of track-surfaces, a plurality of wheels, including a balance-wheel and steadying-wheel, adapted to travel upon said tracksurfaees, and a rotatable shaft, to which the arms of the wheels are connected, whereby the shaft .is rotated, substantially as herein described.

2. A mechanical movement comprising a circumferentially-tilti11g platform, a wheel mounted thereon and adapted to travel on an endless track, whereby it will roll continuously down the incline formed by the tilting of the platform, a balance-wheel connected with and in front of the first and traveling upon an endless track on said platform, and a third wheel traveling on an endless track on the platform and connected with said other wheels to steady them, substantially as herein described.

3. A mechanical movement comprising a circumferentially-tilting platform, a wheel mounted on an endless track thereon and adapted to roll continuously down the incline formed by the tilting of the platform, a limiting-plate secured to and beneath the platform, and a fixed base havin' g a vertically-disposed. circumferential flange or stop below the limiting-plate and with which it comes in contact to limit the tilting movement of the platform, substantially as herein described.

4:. A mechapical movement comprising the circumferentially-tilting platform, a wheel mounted upon an endless track thereon and adapted to roll continuously down the incline formed by the tilting of the platform, a limiting-plate secured to and under the platform, a fixed base with a circular flange for limiting the tilting movement of the plate and platform, and the central ball-and-socket support and joint between the base and the limitingplate, substantially as herein described.

5. A mechanical movement comprising the circumferentially-tilting platform, a. wheel mounted upon a circular track thereon and adapted to roll continuously down the incline formed by the tilting of the platform, a limiting-plate secured to and under the platform, a base with a circular flange for limiting the tilting movement of the plate and platform, and the vertically-movable pivotpin, with a ball on its upper end, fitting a socket in the limiting-plate, said pivot-pin forming an adjustable support and joint for permitting and varying the tilting movement of the platform, substantially as herein described.

6. A mechanical movement comprising a circumferentially-tilting platform having an endless path upon it, upon which a continuously-moving weight is adapted to be placed, a gravity-wheel mounted upon an endless track on the platform and adapted to roll down the incline formed by the tilting of the platform due to the continuouslymoving weight, and a balance-wheel mounted upon an endless track on the platform and connected with and in front of the gravity-wheel, substantially as herein described.

'7. A mechanical movement comprising a circumferentially-tilting platform having an endless path upon it, upon which a continuously-moving weight is adapted to be placed, a gravity-wheel mounted upon an endless track on the platform and adapted to roll down the incline formed by the tilting of the platform due to the continuously-moving weight, a balance-wheel mounted upon an endless track on the platform and connected with and in front of the gravity-wheel, and a steadying-wheel mounted upon an endless track on the platform and connected with and back of the other wheels, substantially as herein described.

8. A mechanical movement comprising the base with its stop-flange and pivot-pin, with a ball on its upper end, the platform 0, with and connected to the rotary shaft, substanits connected limiting-plate D, having a tially as herein described.

CHARLES HENRY WILLIAMS. TITO MARTIN LASH. Witnesses:

THOMAS F. PHILLIPS, G. T. WAYLAND.

socket mounted upon the ball end of the pivot-pin of the base, said platform having the circular path and the concentric tracks, the central rotary shaft, and the connected Wheels mounted upon said concentric tracks 

